Wednesday, July 06, 2011

Seven Reasons

I'm catching up on my reading for pleasure this summer, and I just finished Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger, an excellent YA paranormal romance that was not at all the usual thing. I originally purchased it due to the author's promotional video (which you can view here) and to riff of his theme, I thought I'd share the seven reasons I truly enjoyed this book:

1. Being gay is normal. Which it is, except in romance fiction. In romance fiction gay characters are treated as perky protagonist sidekicks, perky protagonist shopping partners, perky gossipy co-workers and perky next door neighbor gourmet chefs who do nothing but cook more food than they can eat and so must deliver the overage to the protagonist while nattering on about their current crush (who is, alas, inevitably, tragically straight; this so the gay character will not have any real chance of having sex during the course of the story.)

2. It is indeed a page turner. The author kept me turning them until I finished it at 1:43 am. Which makes him the primary reason I reached for the evil caffeinated tea the next morning, and why I had to take a nap that afternoon.

3. The cat scene was cute. I tried to convince my cat Jeri to play fetch with me this morning. He yawned in my face and went back to dozing in the sun while he considered a new plan to get rid of the dogs.

4. The villain was way cool. I haven't had one make me cringe like that since my daughter made me watch Alien, which I did up until the face lobster thing, at which point I decided I could get the rest of the story from the TV guide synopsis.

5. Not romance-typical at all. On this I speak from experience, having written almost fifty romance and romance-friendly novels, and having read several thousand of the typical variety. I'm also physically handicapped, and I can assure you that despite our myriad attractions we're usually not considered by the general public as romantic material.

6. It does have something to say about these other-than-real-world realms where our teens spend so much time.

7. The promotional video was not cheesy. It actually got me to buy the book -- only the second book video to accomplish that -- and it inspired this list.

My only complaint is that the novel was too short, but any novel I enjoy this much usually is.

As always, you don't have to take my word for it. In comments to this post, list the title of the last book you read that you enjoyed, and why (or if you're in a reading slump, just toss your name in the hat) by midnight EST on Friday, July 8, 2011. I will draw seven names at random from everyone who participates and send the winners an unsigned copy of Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger as well as a signed copy of After Midnight by Yours Truly. This giveaway is open to everyone on the planet, even if you've won something here at PBW in the past.

56 comments:

For Chrysalis one week, my co-host Winter wrote a great story featuring homosexuality...but I only realised really late in the story it DID feature that. As was her intention! Anyway, the story is found here:

The last book I read that I enjoyed was A Little Bit of Passion by Beate Boeker. It was the first 'emails format' story I've ever read, and it was quite easy to follow. The romance was fairly typical, but I didn't expect the twist toward the end that kept me turning pages. Quite fun.

My most recently read book was White Cat by Holly Black. It's a young adult novel and very predictable, but the story is so well written that its predictability didn't bother me. I recommend the book to anyone interested in YA books.

The last book I read that I enjoyed . . . that's a low bar. I guess that would be Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements, a MG science fiction novel. Being a YA/MG writer is my excuse to read all the fun sounding YA and MG books! On the one hand, I enjoyed this book because it has a fun premise and a sweet little proto-romance. On the other hand, its premise strays dangerously close to that of my own YA novel that my agent is getting ready to send on submission. I actually read it to get a feel for just *how* close.

If I don't win this, I'll definitely be looking for it on my own, because I've been looking for examples of YA books that treat gay characters with respect *without* being coming out dramas.

I was on a Shakespeare kick a few weeks ago and I have to say that I love "The Taming of the Shrew". I am currently reading "Vanity, Vitality, and Virality", a book about how chemistry in the products we use daily is not a bad thing. It is excellent:

‎"In fact, although it may claim to be 'natural' ingredients, what this often means is that the ingredients can be found in Nature, not that they come from that source. Most come from chemical companies." -John Emsley speaking of lotions and cosmetics in "Vanity, Vitality, and Virality"

I've just finished Sword of the Land/Blood of the Land, by Noel-Anne Brennan (I had to finish the second one fast, my daughter was racing through the first one behind me). I've been reading fantasy for decades, and am always delighted to find a new plot premise (what if the rightful heir and the usurper are friends?). Nothing deep or heavy here, just fine summer reading.

I really enjoyed Heartless, the latest entry in Gail Cairrger's Parasol Protectorate series, it's as funny as the previous books and did a good job of advancing the series without leaving too many plot threads from the story hanging.I also liked Loretta Chase's Silk is For Seduction, it has wonderfully complex characters and Chase's dukes don't the title just as historical wallpapering.

On a non-fiction note, I am completely in love with Distant Mirror: America as a Foreign Culture. This is one of only three books I've ever been assigned as textbooks that I would absolutely recommend outside of school.

I've been doing a lot of beta reading and editing for others lately... not even sure what's new in the bookstores as I haven't had time to go.

Of the published work I've read lately, I'd have to go with The Seventh Veil by Heidi Cullinan. Heidi's usual genre is m/m romance of various flavors but TSV is different. The m/m is still there but it's more focused on the epic fantasy side and is the start to a full on series.

I've read so many enjoyable books this year, it's hard to single one out. I guess the last one I read that I got a kick out of was a light, sweet YA paranormal called Fairy Bad Day by Amanda Ashby. =o)

Nico, I've heard a lot about Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. I really need to look into that.

I'm currently first drafting, so I've been torn in lots of directions reading-wise. I'm listening to Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente while I run, and it is great so far. Highly recommend it. Also, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. A book I think every high school girl should read.

Shakespeare Undead by Lori Handeland. I love Shakespeare and she wove so much of his work into the story. It also had a very interesting heroine who could kick major butt all by herself. I also enjoyed Working for the Devil by Lillith St. Crow. She built a neurotic set of characters and a very concrete world.

The last couple "summer reads" that were recommended by book critics and reviewers were disappointments. I'm looking for a quick read that I can enjoy while waiting for the kids at the pool, sitting in the doctors office, or having one eye on the groups at the beach. Please put my name in your hat. Thanks.

Currently reading The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths, which was the book club book this month for our local mystery bookstore. I didn't expect to enjoy it, since it's told in present tense, but it's got a fascinating subject (forensic archaeology) and a very different locale (a saltmarsh in England), and it's just all around good. So I am enjoying it in spite of my bias against present-tense story-writing.

Last book that I enjoyed...mmm...I can't rightly remember. I've read a whole string of books lately that didn't really stick in my mind. I'm currently reading "Shaman's Crossing" by Robin Hobb. It's been a while since last I sank my fangs into an epic fantasy. It looks promissing so far...

Lynn, The last book I enjoyed is one I just finished. Wither by Lauren DeStefano. It is part of her "Chemical Garden Trilogy." The only downside to this book is that it is the first and according to her website, the second book will not be released until February 2012. I hate that. So, by the time the second book comes out, I will have to re-read (or at least glance through) the first book to remember names, places, plotline. I usually try to steer clear of trilogies with long release dates between the books. This was an impulse purchase from Wal-mart because I liked the cover. Now I have to wait for the rest of the books.TamiJacksonville

Absolutely loved Bitter Angels by C. L. Anderson. She did a great job on creating characters who contrasted with each other and who were compelling. Also? Any SF book where one of the main characters is essentially a middle-aged woman, complete with normal middle-aged spread (waist & hips!) is a WIN.

I just finished Clash of Kings by George Martin-nice to read a well crafted epic series. The number of characters was overwhelming at first, but as I got to know them the threads of the story really fanned out and wove together in interesting ways.

I'm in a fiction-reading slump, unfortunately. Plenty of non-fic reading caused by unwelcome life circumstances, thus I'm not enjoying my reading lately. I could really use a good page-turner, and this one sounds awesome.

I think if I don't win it here, I'll go buy myself a copy. Thanks for posting about this title and hosting a giveaway.

On a reading binge despite being in summer school. Tempest's Legacy. Loving this book. I had been avoiding it because I didn't think it was for adults. See cover art. But I am crazy for the character because they are convincingly blind to their own positive characteristics. I mean, really, I don't believe that heroine can't see how hot, genious, ambitious assertive she it. Tempest speaks first from the heart without thinking first. She's great by accident and awkward just as much.

The last bk I read n enjoyed was Alissa Johnson's Historical Romance "As Luck Would Have It". It was light, humorous & I liked both the hero & heroine's character. Just want I needed to relax at the end of the day when I'm pretty much brain dead.